up the river with a paddle : 53 project week 26

I went kayaking with my friend Dan on the Mashpee River this weekend -- a picture-perfect day with blue skies and big fluffy clouds.  We saw an amazing array of shore birds hunting, feeding, nesting, swimming, soaring, and just generally hanging out at the river's edge.

Osprey hunting for lunch

Birdwatching

This cormorant didn't move as we paddled past -- just posed ever-so-gracefully

Cardinal flower

Osprey parents...

...guarding their nest

Forget-me-nots

Trying to gracefully maneuver out of the weeds

Wind in the cattails

Heron liftoff

Egret

Laughing gull, welcoming us back to dry land.